"It's an old-school mullet with some modern-day graffiti," said barber Alex Maldonado, who charged Hillier $25 for the haircut, which was trimmed right before the Hawks' heart-stopping, 2-1 Game 7 overtime win over the Hawks' bitter rival Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference semifinals.

To prepare for the Stanley Cup Finals, which begin Wednesday against Boston, Hillier redesigned the mullet, as a Stanley Cup design was shaved into the left side of his head.

Hillier — and his hair — are ready.

"We all stereotype mullets. I think a lot of people, when you see a mullet, think you're seeing a hillbilly," said Hillier, 29, of Crown Point, Ind. "This one had to be different, one-of-a-kind, distinct.

"I like to refer to it as 'The Mullet.'"

Hillier said he called several barber shops to shave the artwork into his head. All of them, he said, referred him to Maldonado, 24, of J's Barber Shop in Merrillville, Ind.

"I've put Bob Marley into the back of someone's head, and this was much easier," said Maldonado, who features some of his top work on his Twitter account. "But it's always a challenge trying to duplicate a design that someone wants."